Ex-Mayor Jim Canfield and current Mayor Jon Netts bookended the story of Palm Coast’s 15-year journey to a City Hall of its own in a grand opening ceremony that drew throngs of residents and plenty of cheers.
Palm Coast City Council
Long Creek Preserve: For Palm Coast, a Chance to Restore a Vast, Lucrative History
Beyond the Long Creek Nature Preserve, Palm Coast has an opportunity to revive the state and national importance the area of the preserve played in the plantation system of the 18th and 19th centuries, says County Attorney Al Hadeed.
Palm Coast’s Years in Sinai End as It Moves Into Long-Sought City Hall in Town Center
Sixteen years after the city was born, Palm Coast moved into its own roomy, $9.1 million, 40,000-square-foot City Hall at Town Center this week, with a grand opening set for Nov. 3.
Charter Review Proposal Finally Dies Amid Accusations of “Political Ploy” and Straw Men
Palm Coast Council member’s proposal for a charter review got no support as fellow-council member Jason DeLorenzo called the move a “political ploy” and Council member Heidi Shipley’s attempt to have the council itself lead a review also failed.
Palm Coast Utility Billing Switches to Paymentus
At the same time as Palm Coast’s switch to the new utility billing system, the city also established a new online application option for utility service.
Palm Coast Government’s Arrogance
Proves It: Charter Review Is Overdue
The Palm Coast City Council has responded to calls for a charter review with smugness, contempt and disrespect toward a council member elected by more people than three other council members combined. Enough of the charade.
Palm Coast Warily Explores Buying $1 Million Yacht Club for Nature and Senior Center
Buying the Palm Coast Yacht Club would help the city avoid building a required nature center near Long Creek Preserve, but council members are skeptical about creating what would amount to a second community center so close to the first.
Palm Coast Readies to Give Its City Attorneys a 15% Raise as Councilman Objects to Method
The contract will bring Palm Coast’s legal costs to close to half a million dollars a year. Councilman Steven Nobile objected to the the absence of some accountability process before ratifying the new contract amendment, but had no support from fellow-council members.
Palm Coast Joins Local Governments in Opposition to Utilities’ Proposed Cost-Shifting
Upending a century-long arrangement, utilities want local governments to pay for moving utility lines in public construction projects even though the lines use public right of ways at no cost to utilities.
Child’s Death at Bus Stop Prompts Creation of Joint School-City Safety Committee
Palm Coast City Council member Andy Dance and School Board member Andy Dance formed the joint committee with administrators from both agencies to explore safety improvements at bus stops.
City Manager Jim Landon as Control Freak: Two Council Members Fret Over His Grip
Palm Coast Council members Heidi Shipley and Steven Nobile described a Landon regime of control and cold shoulders in the latest discussion on charter review, while the manager was away at a conference.
Flagler’s Ronald Reagan Republicans: Don’t Associate Us With Palm Coast Charter Review
Mike McElroy, president of the Ronald Reagan Republican Assemblies, says Palm Coast Councilman Steven Nobile’s push for a charter review–while not a bad idea–is entirely his own rather than an agenda of the RRRs.
Palm Coast Manager Apologizes for Ordering Work Without School Board Approval First
City Manager Jim Landon ordered utility work to proceed without securing an easement from the Flagler County School Board, though he’s been critical of the county over a similar issue.
Palm Coast Council Rebuffs Steven Nobile’s Latest Call for Charter Review Process
Palm Coast Council member Steven Nobile today again pressed for a citizen-led charter review only to again be blunted by a silent majority and a disagreeing Mayor Netts.
No Pollution Problem Along Florida Park Drive, Council Concludes, Ending Further Debate
After ruling out traffic as a problem, the Palm Coast council Tuesday ruled out pollution and appeared to end its response to recurring complaints from residents along Florida Park Drive.
Citing High Costs and an Arrest, Council Says No to a Fence Around Ralph Carter Park
An arrest in spring and the $70,000 to $160,000 cost of a fence dissuaded council members from giving in to Richardson Drive residents demanding a fence around Ralph Carter Park.
To Battle Nit-Pickers, Palm Coast Will Make Anonymous Code Enforcement Complaints More Difficult
In an attempt to fight back against harassing and nit-picky neighbors, the Palm Coast City Council will require names and email addresses from people filing code violation complaints electronically.
In Latest Round of County-City Water War, Flagler Now Objects to 25% Surcharge From Palm Coast
The county is giving Palm Coast 30 days to consider reducing or waiving the surcharge while also exploring importing water from Bunnell to serve the county airport, which is surrounded by Palm Coast.
Hobby Lobby, Brass Tap Beer Bar, Moe’s Grill and 500 Jobs: Island Walk Is 84% Full
The developers of Island Walk, the once and future shopping center previously known as Palm Harbor in the heart of Palm Coast, have secured long-term leases with enough retailers to fill 84 percent of its space when it begins opening in phases in 2016.
Palm Coast Back-Pats Its Grim Luck: Red-Light Camera Suit Dismissed After Plaintiff’s Death
Palm Coast’s decision not to settle a lawsuit against it had looked like a mistake once the Supreme Court ruled red-light cameras illegal, until the plaintiff died and was not replaced on the lawsuit, allowing the city to slither out of the it.
Palm Coast Proposes 6 Percent Tax Hike; Home Owners Will See Much Lower Increase
If the council sticks with the proposed 2016 rate, which is the same as this year’s, a homesteaded homeowner with a $150,000 house, in the median range in Palm Coast, would see a tax increase of between $5 and $10 dollars for the year.
Palm Coast’s Sign Regulations May Be Forced to Loosen, City Attorney Warns
The changes, which would likely relax Palm Coast’s rules, would be required to comply with a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling making the regulation of temporary signs on private property much more difficult.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Stuns World’s No. 1 and Advances to Wimbledon Boys Final Sunday
The 17-year-old continued his dream run at Wimbledon Friday, defeating No.1 seed Taylor Fritz, 6-3. 7-6 (13) to reach his first-ever Slam final.
After Months of Hedging, Palm Coast Approves New Rules on Yard Fences, Walls (and Bars)
The rules allow for more fence colors, eliminate setback and shrubbery requirements but more strictly regulate fences along saltwater canals.
Palm Coast Dead Zones: City Proposing Less Restrictive Cell-Tower Rules, But Council Demurs
The proposal is being made ahead of a deal between the city and a cell tower company to put a 150-foot tower near Heroes Park, behind Palm Coast Parkway, on land where Palm Coast’s Water Plan No. 1 sits.
Male Prostitute, 42, Faces Felony Charge of Assaulting Client, 69, in Palm Coast’s W-Section
A deputy had to threaten a naked Charles Hines, 42, with a Taser to force him out of the client’s house, naked, during a commotion that drew several neighbors’ attention Wednesday evening.
Palm Coast’s Jim Landon Retaliates Against County in Series of Accusations, Then Says Conflict Is All But Resolved
Landon put the city’s trust of the county in question, implied the county runs a less professional organization than the city, accused the county of deceiving a state agency, and accused the county manager of using bullying tactics before conceding that all is just about well between the two sides.
Palm Coast Points Finger Back at County Over Airport Water Clash, But Agrees to Executive Summit
Firing back at county criticism, City Manager Jim Landon said the county has always known what to do to resolve a standoff over a water agreement for the airport. But the city and county manager are now likely to meet with the mayor and the county board chairman to resolve the issue.
County Rips Into Palm Coast Government Over Shackled Airport Water Deal
County frustration boiled into outright criticism of Palm Coast’s administration Monday as the city has yet to sign a deal both sides agreed to seven months ago, controlling water service at the county airport.
Florida Park Drive Data Sees No Traffic Problem. Residents Differ. Council Is Stumped.
The Palm Coast council wants to help residents along Florida Park Drive, but it isn’t sure there is a solution there that would not also trigger a problem elsewhere.
Palm Coast Passes on Supporting County In Anti-Fracking and Drilling Resolutions
The Palm Coast City Council chose not to sign on to a pair of resolutions opposing fracking or seismic testing for oil offshore of Florida, saying the county has already spoken.
Palm Coast Councilman Calls for Task Force to Address Public Abuse of Government Workers
At Council member Bill McGuire’s request, the city formed a task force to better protect government employees from what he says has become routine abuse in person, by phone, by email, and out on the streets where government workers often interact with residents.
Palm Coast Bragging Rights: City’s Fire Protection Rating Vaults to Near Highest
Palm Coast’s fire-protection ISO rating improves from 4 to 2, topping the county and yielding likely cheaper property insurance rates for commercial and residential property owners.
In a Reversal, Palm Coast Council Opts to Delay Old Kings Road Repaving Until Fall of 2016
The resurfacing of Old Kings Road will wait for the completion of a utility project along the road. Instead, three dozen city streets will be repaved in 2015-16.
Taxable Values Rise Again–6% in Palm Coast, 7% in Flagler–But So Do Demands on Budgets
With more value comes more revenue for local governments, and more expectations from various agencies and the public–including a $2.4 million budget increase request from the sheriff’s office alone.
Palm Coast Wants Protection From Extortionist Lawsuits Over Public Record Requests
Palm Coast and the Florida League of Cities are seeking a change in law that would protect local governments from opportunistic groups more individuals who sue governments and companies over public record violations.
Palm Coast Council Members Cautiously Discuss Their Low Salaries, But No Raise Yet
Palm Coast council members earn the same as Bunnell commission members: $9,600 a year, even though Palm Coast has 30 times the population of Bunnell.
Missing Key Ingredient—“People”—Charter Review Storm Evaporates as Quickly as It Came
Few people showed up at today’s Palm Coast council meeting and fewer still spoke on the charter-review proposal by Council member Steven Nobile, appearing to end the matter.
Flagler’s Ronald Reagan Group Orchestrating Blitz on Palm Coast Council Over City Charter
An email request for “support” of council member Steven Nobile’s push for a charter review went to the local tea party membership, and was signed by the Ronald Reagan group’s president, Michael McElroy.
Steven Nobile Thrust For Broad Charter Review Has Rest of Palm Coast Council on Defensive
A push for a charter review by Palm Coast City Council member Steven Nobile provoked an at-times heated discussion at council today as members largely opposed the notion absent a more defined public drive for changing the city’s equivalent of a constitution.
Hurricane, Terrorism, Evacuations: In Flagler Emergencies, These Are The People Who Hold Your Fate In Their Hands
The Flagler County Executive Policy Group is the most powerful local government panel you’ve never heard of, and its members make all key decisions in natural or man-made emergencies. They practiced this morning.
Neighborhood Feuds Again Simmer Around Ralph Carter Park, But Solutions Questioned
While Ralph Carter Park in Palm Coast’s R-Section thrives, neighbors around Richardson Drive are feuding with younger people, who feel harassed for just hanging out. The city council is looking into a block party–and possibly more fence-building around the park.
Palm Coast Mayor Rips Waste of County’s EMS Service and Says Do It All Or Pay the City
Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts doesn’t question the quality of emergency services but considers them wastefully duplicative, and wants to see the city’s and county’s approach change.
Derelict Matanzas Golf Course Overrun By More Questions Than Answers, Angering Residents
The Matanzas gold course has been in disuse for almost a decade, it is overgrown and badly kept. The city is stepping up code enforcement, but also pledging to convene a discussion between property owners and gonvernent agencies, including the mysterious owners of the golf course.
Supreme Court Turns Down Red-Light Camera Appeal, Leaving In Place Restrictions On Who May Issue Tickets
The Florida Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal on a red-light camera case with a direct bearing on Palm Coast’s traffic-enforcement program. Five justices concurred in turning down the appeal, without explanation, as is customary when the court turns down a case.
Candor, Humor and a Few Sharp Jabs from Jim Landon in a State of the City Overview
Addressing Walmart’s renewed interest in its potential second store in Palm Coast, golf courses, construction and economic activity, Palm Coast City Manager spoke for almost two hours Monday morning to some 90 residents about the state of the city and its near future.
For Palm Coast’s Money-Losing Golf Course, Grass Is Always Greener On Other Side of Promises
An update on the city’s golf course did not go well this morning at city council. Instead of projecting when the golf course and tennis center would stop losing money, City Manager Jim Landon directed the company managing the operations to simply stop making projections to the city council.
Dennis McDonald Sues Palm Coast Again, This Time Over Tripping On a Cracked Sidewalk
The city’s insurer denied Dennis McDonald’s claim for damages over an injury he suffered while walking on a Club House Drive sidewalk in 2013. He’s suing the city for damages of more than $15,000, though he’s yet top pay a slightly larger debt to the city, by a judge’s order, in compensation for a frivolous and unrelated lawsuit he’d filed five months after the accident.
Palm Coast Mayor Netts Urges Residents To Join Water-Conservation Challenge
By participating in the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, Palm Coast residents can qualify to win a Prius and other eco-friendly prizes, and put the city on the map of greenest communities.
Fences May Rise in Front Yards Citywide and Descend in Backyards, Along Saltwater Canals
The Palm Coast City Council is verging on approving looser regulations for front-yard fences citywide, and stricter regulations on backyard fences along saltwater canals only.